Gay Mykonos

Gay Mykonos

A celebrated and world-famous gay destination, Mykonos is one of the most popular and stylish islands of Greece. Offering sophistication, charm, and beauty -- both scenic and corporeal -- it's no wonder that so much of Mykonos flies the rainbow flag.

Mykonos, part of a small cluster of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, has 85 square kilometers of charm, beauty, and sandy beaches. Life here was hard until recently, especially during the war years and the political unrest that followed, and people barely scraped by. Young, international, alternative, and celebrity visitors of the 1960's and '70s who 'discovered' the island, set the stage for the tourist industry that transformed the economy. The epicenter is Chora (or Mykonos Town), beside the island's two ports, which has retained much of it's old-world scenic beauty. Small cobbled streets and winding alleys are lined with churches and tiny shops, mostly painted bright white, contrasting with deep blue skies and the Aegean Sea. Matoyianni is the longest street in town, where you can buy clothes, jewelry, and other products made by celebrated local designers. The streets are also full of international-style restaurants and coffeeshops as well as the more traditional Greek gyro joints and salad bars. Lose yourself in the colorful maze to explore these alleys and hidden sidestreets.

Just north of the port in the area of Little Venice, stand the island's famous windmills. These Kato Myli once powered the local economy, grinding wheat to produce flour. Some have since been converted into houses. The easy-to-get-to monastery of Tourliani, about five miles north of town, is another set of local historic buildings. Check out the amazing ecclesiastical woodcarvings, and the marble bell tower.

The XLSIOR International Gay Festival takes place at various venues over a five-day weekend each year in August, attracting around 30,000 circuit boys and vacationers from around the world. Top-rank DJs and well-known gay-scene artists on stage provide the entertainment for open-air party dancers. Elia Beach, Cavo Paradiso and the Elysium Hotel have been among the festival sites. See beaches below.

Getting here

There are many direct summer flights from major European cities to Mykonos Airport, a 5-10 minute taxi drive from Mykonos town. There is regular public bus service, and some hotels provide transfers by private mini buses. During winter months domestic airlines Aegean and Olympic are the best flying options.

Athens International Airport is an good alternative, with easy transportation to Piraeus, the Port of Athens, in just over an hour on the Airport-Piraeus Express bus (X96). There is Metro rail transport too, with a change of trains at Monastiraki station. From Piraeus, one of several ferry or hydrofoil services will get you direct to Mykonos, in anywhere from 3 to 5 hours, with great views of the islands and pretty sunsets. The slower boat has larger deck areas, and restaurant facilities. See GoFerry.gr for information and bookings.

Getting around

Buses are the least expensive way to get around the island, with regular KTEL bus service from three bus stations: Fabrica to Platys Gyalos, Psarou, Ornos, Agios Ioannis, Paradise and Paraga; the OTE area to Ano Mera, Kalafati and Elia; and from Old Port to New Port and Agios Stefanos. Tickets cost around 2 euros.

Fishing boats, or caiques, are another inexpensive way to hop to, or between beaches, from the most popular to those most remote.

Taxis can be few and far between in high season, but they're the best way to find your way around in a town with few street names or building numbers. Maps are vague at best, sometimes downright confusing. Locations on websites are often indicated as "just behind," "next to," or "opposite" some well-known landmark church or city building. Be patient, relax, it's hard to get too lost on a small island.

Cars or moterbikes are easy to rent, with about 40 companies, from the international big names to small local independents, with vehicles to get around the island at your own pace.

Money

As a part of the European Union, Greece uses the Euro as the currency. ATM's can found around town for cash.

For map locations and website links to the businesses below, and more, see our gay Mykonos listings pages.

Bars and clubs

After sunset in summertime the evenings pulse with nightlife. Restaurants tend to get busiest after 8pm, bars after 10pm. High season runs between June and September, and many businesses shut down through the winter months.

Cavo Pardiso (Paradise Beach), mixed crowd of happy clubbers, house and dance music, very busy in high season to dance away the night and drink cocktails until sunrise.

Cine Manto (Limni Chora Mykonos), June through September outdoor cinema film screenings, new releases to cult classics in original languages; all day cafe/restaurant breakfast/brunch, BBQs, dinner, wine and cocktails under the trees of the botanic garden.

Jackie O' (Kastro Waterfront), local legend, original waterfront cocktail bar on the seawall "sunset to sunrise in style;" dancing, nightly drag shows, two floors, tables on large terrace.

Jackie O' Beach Club at Super Paradise Beach, food and drinks not cheap but a popular gay hangout next to the island's most exclusive beach; restaurant, large open bar, pool and Jacuzzi, lounge areas, plus boutique shop, massage services and boat parties.

Greek cuisine features the mezze, or "middle," a filler, but not a full meal. Traditional mezze may contain marinated olives, fresh bread, soft feta cheese in oil, dolmades (stuffed vine leaves, with rice, pine nuts, and raisins), sundried tomatoes, sardines, and other seafood. Portions can be so generous they become a full meal. Salads, fish, and meat are local and fresh; no fast-foot here. Wine, spirits, and lthe ocal ouzo -- anise-flavored liqueur -- are always on the menu, together with cognacs and fine coffees.

From boutique hotels with cozy rooms in traditional Greek-style buildings downtown to more lavish and spacious modern neo-classical hotels further out, Mykonos offers an impressively wide range of accommodations. Nearly all hotels have adapted to the island's nocturnal nature, so breakfast is usually served until noon.

Harmony Boutique Hotel (Mykonos; 30-228-902-8980), one of few year-round hotels, overlooks port and town. Most rooms with balcony views; all with satellite television, mini-bar, safe, hairdryers, internet. Suites with Jacuzzis. The Apolafsi Restaurant, overlooks the sea, offers local and international fare, including pasta, with poolside cocktails.

Mykonos has a wide variety of beaches and bays. Some are unspoiled with few or no amenities, others famously serve up everything you might want. Beaches are packed during high season of July and August, but much quieter come September. Getting to the beaches can be exciting, with roads narrow and rocky with bumps and holes everywhere. Rent a car or a a bike. Lost your swimsuit? ES Collection Mykonos (Enoplon Dinameon at Tourlianis) has you covered at the beach, also with underwear, casual street attire, sportswear and accessories.

Taxis are reasonable if you can find one, or there's regular bus services from downtown to the most popular spots: Paradise, Super Paradise, Paranga, and Elia; from early morning until 9-10pm. Fares are cheap, just over a Euro, or buy a book of tickets for even less, at local shops. Boats can be used to beach-hop too, running back and forth all day, at reasonable rates.

Paradise Beach, (aka Kalamopodi) beside Paranga, is well-served by shops, self-service restaurants, diving facilities and bars. Get here on regular bus service, located about 5km out of town. Paradise starts pounding with music by late afternoon, and a large and lively, mostly young straight crowd drinks and dances at the Paradise Club as the sun sets. There's a camp site here too.

Paranga Beach, a gorgeous sandy area 15 minutes walk from Platis Yialos Beach, is another small gay and mixed crowd nude beach, with a rocky cruising area nearby. Sun-bed and umbrella rentals, restaurant refreshments, and masseur services are available. The raised rocky end feature naked men and fantastic views of the beach and surrounding countryside. Daytime cruising gets busy, and skinny dipping is the fashion. Wear good shoes for climbing the sharp rocks.

Super Paradise Beach (aka Plintri) was for years the island's most famous gay beach, the place to be in Mykonos. At 10km out, and somewhat more difficult to get to than Paradise Beach, the beautiful sand and cute men in Speedos and sunglasses at the mainly gay and nudist end make it worth the effort. A bar and restaurant with pool overlook the sea, above the gay section and the water is deep and clear, especially beside the rocky areas. Regular caique boats come here from Platis Yialos Beach, and the Jackie O' Beach Club may pull back some of those who have made Elia beach more popular lately. Pack a snack and plenty of water, or pay the premium prices.

Elia Beach a mixed gay and straight stretch of sand that's clothing-optional at one end, is further on and takes a little longer to reach. A more relaxed and natural ambiance on the long wide sands make it popular with gay travelers and there are a few restaurants and bars. The XLSIOR Dance Festival has one of their annual beach parties here. Small boats from Platis Yialos beach stop here, or there's a bus from Chora. A smaller and even more secluded Agrari Beach is another 5-minute walk beyond.